1833. "Sir, "Washington, March 9th, 1833. "I have received the medals you have been good enough to send me. They are interesting and beautiful specimens, creditable to the state of the arts in England, and to your own taste and enterprize; exhibiting in the new world, for its emulation, a splendid proof of improvement in the old, in one of the most difficult departments of human industry. "The progress and perfection of those branches of the arts which require genius in the conception, and great skill in the execution, and the interchange of their productions, are interesting to all countries. Literature, science, and the arts, constitute a public stock, to which the contributions may be unequal, but from which each nation may appropriate to itself, without injury to others, whatever can be usefully applied. Accept my thanks for this distinguished mark of your attention, and for the kind terms in which your sentiments have been conveyed. "With respect, I am, Sir, "Your obedient humble servant, Andrew Jackson "Sir Edward Thomason." 66 Londres, le 26 Mars, 1833. "Monsieur, "J'attendai toujours l'envoi du déjeuner que j'avais commandé dans votre fabrique, pour vous remercier de l'aimable accueil que vous m'avez fait pendant mon sejour à Birmingham. Mais attendant en vain depuis six semaines ce que vous deviez m'envoyer, je ne veux pas tar- 1833. der plus long tems a vous exprimer ma reconnoissance de l'affabilité que vous m'avez temoignée. Je vous prie de dire à vos commis de m' expedier le déjeuner le plutot possible et d'y joindre une tasse d'or plaquet faite sur le même model que le reste. "Recevez l'expression de mes sentiments distinguées. L. Nopplion Bonaparti "Mons. E. Thomason, Birmingham." 66 Rome, March 12th, 1833. "Sir, "I have the pleasure to inform you that I have had advice from Leghorn, that the case containing the mosaic picture, presented to you by his Holiness, Gregory the XVI., has arrived safe there, and would be forwarded, agreeably to your directions, to London as soon as possible. Its arrival there, must depend, of course, upon wind and weather, and the other delays incidental to a sea voyage at this season of the year. That it may arrive safe, and give you all the expected satisfaction, is the sincere hope of, Sir, "Your very sincere servant, Band: Wald "Sir E. Thomason, &c., &c." "I have been very remiss in not thanking you and Lady Thomason, in my own and Mrs. Baber's name, for the very handsome present of the pyrites (diamond) specimens, but I have been so much occupied by business that would not allow of postponement, to say nothing of the numerous visitors we are obliged to receive now that the period of our departure is so nigh, that I have not had leisure to write my acknowledgements sooner. You will scarcely believe the admiration this present has excited, for I invariably mention the source from whence it came, and the courteous treatment I received from you and Lady Thomason. I have made many inquiries in town, and cannot learn that the pyrites were ever before worked up as you have done; though it is admitted, by all who have seen it, that it would be in universal requisition, if offered for sale. I have been expecting to hear from Sir George Staunton that he had heard from you on the subject of the medals. He said that he should think it an honour to be addressed by a gentleman of your distinguished merits, and would do all in his power to promote your wishes; but it would be necessary to be extremely cautious as to the manner in which the thing was done. He proposed taking the opinion of the Court of Direc tors of the East India Company; but all this, and much more, you will have under his own pen when you write to him. We leave town on Saturday for Gravesend, and sail on Sunday; and, as I said before, if you will favour me with your commands in India, nothing will give me more pleasure than to render you any and every service in my power. Mrs. B. joins me in kindest 1833. regards to yourself and Lady Thomason, and I am "Yours ever faithfully, Lernabes "Sir Edward Thomason, Birmingham." 66 (COPY.) Birmingham, March 27, 1833. "The Honourable Court of Directors of the "Gentlemen, "I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your kind communication in a letter from Mr. Auber, under date the 28th of February, and I beg to return you my grateful and sincere thanks for your politeness to make such an arrangement as may possibly lead to the effect that my present may reach the hands of his Celestial Majesty the Emperor of China. I avail myself of your liberality, and I have the honour to send you the series herewith, together with my petition to the Emperor. "The medals are arranged in five splendid volumes, lined with rich satin, the outer covers richly gilt, and adapted for royalty. The five volumes are then put into a polished rosewood case; the rosewood case is protected by a leather case, with a silken cover put over, and attached to the leather; the whole sewed up in embroidery, and addressed in gold letters to his Celestial Majesty, homage of Sir Edward Thomason. "The petition is folded upon a roll of white satin, supported by wood in the interior, and put into a 1833. gilt leather case, which will preserve it from getting out of shape. "I have the honour to remain, "Gentlemen, "Your very faithful, obliged, and very humble servant, "EDWARD THOMASON, Kt." "Sir, "Windsor Castle, March 30, 1833. "I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant, which, together with your petition, and the Medallic History of England, I have laid before the Queen, and am honoured with her Ma. jesty's commands to say that she is very sensible of this mark of your attention, and that she receives, with much pleasure, this beautifully executed and ingenious work, upon which her Majesty cannot bestow too much praise. "I have the honour to be, "Sir, "Your most obedient servant, Denbigh "Sir Edward Thomason, Birmingham." "Sir, "Devonshire Street, April 15, 1833. "I have had the honour to receive your letter, and am happy that everything is now finally arranged for the transmission of your present to China. I shall |